Ligachem Bio

Name

Ligachem Bio

Legal name

LIGACHEM BIOSCIENCES Inc.

Website

https://ligachembio.com

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Oncology drug development
• Small molecule therapeutics
• ADC platform technology
• Biopharmaceutical licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Daejeon

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Technology Transfer: LigaChem Bio generates revenue through out-licensing its proprietary drug candidates and ADC technologies to global pharmaceutical partners. The company has secured major deals including the export of TROP2-targeted ADC LCB84 to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine for 2.25 trillion won.
2. Biologics Partnership Agreements: Revenue generated from strategic partnership agreements with global pharmaceutical companies for co-development and commercialization of therapeutic candidates in the pipeline.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LigaChem Bio is a South Korean biopharmaceutical R&D company that develops proprietary next-generation Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) platform technology and small molecule immunotherapies for cancer treatment. The company discovers and develops drug candidates through internal R&D, then out-licenses them to major global pharmaceutical partners for co-development and commercialization. Its lead asset LCB84 (TROP2-targeted ADC) was exported to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine for 2.25 trillion won.

Product overview

Ligachem Biosciences is a biotech company focused on innovative drug development based on medicinal chemistry expertise. Its core offerings consist of a next-generation ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugate) platform technology and small molecule therapeutics including next-generation immunotherapy and ADC payloads. The company's pipeline includes TROP2-targeted ADC (LCB84, out-licensed to Johnson & Johnson for 2.25 trillion won) and Claudin18.2-ADC (LCB02A, in global Phase 1/2 clinical trials). The company operates under its strategic vision VISION 2030, targeting unmet medical needs through chemistry-biology integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADC Platform Technology Proprietary next-generation Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) platform technology that overcomes limitations of existing ADC technologies, enabling targeted cancer therapy delivery. Licensed to global pharmaceutical partners for co-development and commercialization.
• Small Molecule Immunotherapy Program Next-generation immune anti-cancer drugs and ADC payloads developed through synthetic drug R&D capabilities, utilizing medicinal chemistry and biologics expertise for small molecule compound therapeutics.
• LCB84 (TROP2-targeted ADC) TROP2-targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate developed by LigaChem Bio and exported to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine for co-development and global commercialization rights.
• LCB02A (Claudin18.2-ADC) Claudin18.2-targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate that received global Phase 1/2 clinical trial IND (Investigational New Drug) approval, currently in clinical development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.25 trillion won deal with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine for TROP2-targeted ADC LCB84
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Johnson & Johnson Innovative MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Major strategic partnership for TROP2-targeted ADC LCB84; LigaChem Bio exported the ADC candidate to J&J for 2.25 trillion won (approximately $1.7 billion). This landmark deal represents one of the largest biotech licensing agreements from South Korea and demonstrates the company's ability to develop globally competitive ADC technologies.
• AmgencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal pharmaceutical partnership for ADC and small molecule drug development. Amgen is listed as a partner on LigaChem Bio's website, indicating an active collaboration or partnership arrangement for cancer therapeutics development.
• Ono PharmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Japanese pharmaceutical company Ono Pharma for cancer therapeutics development. Listed as a partner on LigaChem Bio's website alongside Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine and Amgen.
• SotiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSotio is LigaChem Bio's partner company that received FDA rare disease (orphan drug) designation for SOT106, which was noted as having Best-in-class potential. This indicates an active partnership for immune-oncology drug development.
• Daejeon TechnoparkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaejeon Technopark signed trilateral MoU with Daejeon Metropolitan Government and BioCentury during Biopharma Exchange, establishing channels to connect local biotech companies including LigaChem Bio with global investors and pharmaceutical partners. The partnership aims to position Daejeon as a global biotech investment hub.
• BioCenturysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCalifornia-based biotech media firm partnering with Daejeon Technopark and Daejeon Government to connect Korean biotech companies with global investors and pharmaceutical partners. BioCentury participated in investor relations pitching sessions featuring LigaChem Bio and other Daejeon-based companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: Global pharma that acquired ImmunoGen for $10.1B in 2024, becoming a major ADC player. Comparable as a likely counterpart for ADC licensing deals (alongside J&J) and as a benchmark for ADC franchise value.

Emerging players

• ProfoundBio: Clinical-stage ADC company with a pipeline including Claudin18.2-targeted ADCs (overlapping with LigaChem's LCB02A). Highly relevant peer given same target class and clinical-stage development.
• Byondis: Dutch clinical-stage ADC biotech with proprietary linker-payload technology (including a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload platform). Comparable to LigaChem as a next-generation ADC developer pursuing partnerships for global development.
• Tubulis: German biotech developing next-generation ADCs with novel conjugation chemistry to overcome limitations of existing platforms. Comparable as a next-gen ADC platform developer focused on linker stability and payload differentiation.
• Bolt Biotherapeutics: ADC-focused biotech developing immune-stimulating antibody conjugates (ISACs). Comparable as an emerging ADC platform company with proprietary payload/linker technology targeting oncology indications.

Direct peers

• ImmunoGen: Pioneer ADC biotech (now part of AbbVie following a $10.1B acquisition in 2024) that built a franchise around novel linker-payload chemistry. Highly comparable to LigaChem's ADC platform strategy and out-licensing/outcomes model.
• Daiichi Sankyo: Japanese global pharma and the leading pure-play ADC company with Enhertu and Datroway. Most directly comparable to LigaChem as an ADC platform-driven developer pursuing global licensing partnerships and in-house oncology development.
• Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage ADC company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates with proprietary payload and linker technologies. Closely mirrors LigaChem's stage, modality (ADC), and business model of partnering around differentiated payload chemistry.

Regional players

• Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Korean pharmaceutical company with ADC and oncology pipeline programs. Comparable as a Korean-based peer in the same biopharma ecosystem, sharing similar regulatory, talent, and partnership dynamics.

Others

• AstraZeneca:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ligachem Bio